A Wearable Device for Augmented Sensory Feedback-Based Post-Stroke Hand Rehabilitation
摘要
The loss of sensitivity of the upper limb due to neurological injuries (e.g., stroke) severely limits the ability to manipulate objects, hindering personal independence. Non-invasive augmented sensory feedback techniques are used to promote neural plasticity hence to restore the grasping function. This work presents the DESC-Glove, a wearable device for post-stroke hand rehabilitation based on Discrete Event-driven Sensory Control policy. Relying on piezoelectric sensors, it delivers discrete feedback synchronously with the relevant mechanical events (i.e., contact and release) of manipulation. A preliminary study to assess the feasibility of the DESC-Glove was performed: timing of the event detection, sensitivity and specificity of the system were determined. The event detection accuracy was higher than 96% and events were detected within an acceptable time-window corresponding to the actual mechanical events, demonstrating the functionality of the device.